Duty Drawback Simplification regulations are finally here, and they’re a game-changer for importers and exporters looking to recover duties and fees. Companies can now go back five years for duty drawback claims, but you need a plan.

Understanding constantly evolving U.S. customs regulations and its complex requirements is a challenging task.

Whether you are looking for a refresher course or are new to the industry and want to get up to speed fast, our hands-on 5-day Import Boot Camp will provide you with a solid understanding of U.S. Customs regulations, requirements, and best practices needed to tackle a multitude of trade compliance issues with authority.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) set up Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) with the intent of providing importers a "single window" to submit data to other U.S. agencies. But instead of finding a steady mark to hit, shippers are struggling with the complexities of importing under ACE and the partner government agencies (PGAs).

Today’s global trade market, subject to volatility and constant changes, presents several challenges to international companies and their supply chains. Risks to supply chains are normally categorized into issues such as production errors, unanticipated weather events, labor disputes, and qualms with supplier reliability. While these are all legitimate fears that any sensible company should monitor, special attention should also be paid to addressing global trade uncertainties—modifications in economic and political trade policies that precede shifts in regulatory compliance standards.

In recent years, importers and exporters have needed to stay on their toes regarding changes to trade rules of all kinds, and that is rightly causing trepidation.

Economic and trade sanctions are the most widespread and powerful means of displaying disdain for one country’s actions on the world stage. Unilateral or bilateral sanctions are strong penalties that restrict trading activity of goods imported from or to a country. They might also be used to assess duties on particular goods in retaliation for another country’s trade sanctions.

As the late great David Bowie said in his 1971 hit song Changes, "time may change supply chains, but supply chains can't change time." Well... maybe not exactly that. Nonetheless, last year brought about many changes in the global trade industry. We saw a rise in protectionist measures worldwide, new import regulations, and free trade agreement negotiations that could greatly impact leading economies. All of these new developments can be quite concerning for importers and exporters, but which should be top of mind and how can you be prepared?

The importing community is reacting to the recently announced tariff increases based on a recommendation from the United States International Trade Commission. This led to President Trump’s move to add a 30% tariff on solar cells and up to 50% for imported washing machines. The tariffs on the solar cells would decrease over a four-year period.

The President is using Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, the so-called “escape clause” to take this action. This rarely used statutory provision empowers the President to grant temporary import relief, by raising import duties or imposing non-tariff barriers on goods entering the United States that injure or threaten to injure domestic industries that produce similar goods.

How will your company handle trade policy changes? From the latest trade restrictions on the import of solar panels and washing machines, to ongoing NAFTA renegotiations, extensive policy changes are underway. A recent survey of more than 500 global logistics executives found that shippers are divided on the potential outcome of US free trade agreement negotiations and are generally unsure what to expect. Others are scrambling to deal with unexpected trade regulations that have shaken their industries to the very core.

Amber Road wants to help you navigate these changes. Currently, there are eight major policy initiatives in review that could be a big adjustment for importers – affecting both the bottom line and key business practices.

Unpredictability around trade protectionism isn't just limited to the US, or even the western hemisphere. For global companies sourcing and shipping around the world, it can be important to know some of the quirkier import and export anomalies, saving time and avoiding headaches from denied shipments and surprise tariffs.